AFTERWORD

To those of you who have been reading since Volume 1, it’s good to see you again.

For those of you who purchased all twenty-one volumes at once, thank you with all of my heart.

I’m Kazuma Kamachi.

As explained in the beginning, this book’s story is closely linked to Volume 15 of the novels. It’s chock-full of science terms, centered on the key word Dragon, which appeared to hint at deeper goings-on at the end of Volume 15.

Aiwass says this as well at the end of this story, but heroes come in many different varieties. Accelerator, a villain who desires good above all others, and Shiage Hamazura, who became a hero by crawling up from his position as a bargain-sale grunt character whose death would have made perfect sense. They’re different kinds of heroes from Touma Kamijou, and I have to say it’s a lot of fun having them show up out of the blue…Of course, that said, it’s only because Touma Kamijou’s story is central to the whole thing that we can get excited more effectively in contrast by this one, a story about villains and street thugs.

Maybe I just can’t help liking characters who fight with their lives on the line for someone or something precious to them, whether it’s Kuroko Shirai or Acqua of the Back. I was thinking at first that I’d make the subtitle for the epilogue Hope_in_Hand, but I changed it to Brave_in_Hand to denote their bravery, and it struck me as much more suitable for these protagonists!

I’d like to thank Haimura, my illustrator; my editors, Miki and Fujiwara; and Iwakura, who kindly assisted with the powered suit designs for this novel. To be honest, with the unique atmosphere of the villains’ side that clings to Accelerator and Shiage Hamazura, I think the illustration really has its work cut out for it more than the prose. Thank you very much for your support once again.

And a thank-you to all my readers. The only reason I can continue this irregular series whose mood completely changes depending on the volume is because you all decided that way of doing things can be okay. I’d like to try various things in the future as well, so I look forward to your continued support.

Now then, as I humbly close the pages here.

And as I pray that the heroes’ battles will grace the pages of the next book.

Here, now, I lay down my pen.

What form will the battle of these protagonists, each with bravery in hand, take?

Kazuma Kamachi